Got a lot of love between us

Hi everybody! I'm taking a moment tonight to thank all of you for your interest in what I have to say. You've got to know that being an independent thinker, and being a person who thinks about and cares about the world around me, I couldn't be more grateful than I am for the discovery of online communication and the development of social media sites, which have served as a podium for me to make my observations and theories known. And the fact that my thoughts and ideas have turned out to be of value to many of you has inspired me to share the song tonight, "Let's Hang On (To What We've Got)", by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Join me in celebrating what God has done!

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: Let's Hang On (To What We've Got)

Why forgive?

I want to look at a subject that is very much a part of friendship, and is essential to any friendship if we want the friendship to last. I probably haven't addressed it head on before, but friendship is all about forgiveness and mercy. So I'm going to write about forgiveness, and I'm going to approach it with you from the angle of a friend.

Today something happened to me, which has happened many times before, and I'm quite sure it has happened to all of you from time to time. My phone charger stopped working. Now, the majority of my waking hours are spent working on my phone, and quite honestly, I'm kind of lost without it. So it is virtually a disaster when my charger stops working. And just about everyone here has the same type of phone. But I can never find a single person to loan me a charger. Very easily, this could throw me into a huge pity party, particularly since many times different people here have turned to me to fix their phones, and even borrowed my charger when their charger gave out.

However, I do not let the apparent lack of generosity affect my relationships with people at all. There are people who I am sure I could get back at, or stop being nice to. There are lots and lots of people who I could stop being nice to. So why don't I? I don't because I love them! I overlook their selfish acts because I enjoy their friendship. I would rather continue to have good times than bury myself in a grudge.

By forgiving people and holding their friendship to be of greater value than the small hurts I incur from them, I allow my mind to remain in a peaceful view of abundance. I am looking at all the love, all the laughs, the beauty and support people give me. If, on the other hand, I said "That's the last straw, don't expect any kindness from me ever again!", look at all the words even in that sentence which create lack!

And so, unforgivness has its origin in a mentality of lack, and continues to bring with it more lack. But if we can rise above people's misdeeds, and look to our goals and dreams, than won't we be happier people? I am pretty sure we will!

Spanky and Our Gang: Like to Get to Know You

Crystal Lewis Tomorrow

In past blogs, I have shared a number of different videos because I thought they were inspiring, beautiful, etc. Rarely have I related videos I've shared to a previous blog or a previous subject I shared about. This video is different. This video I want to relate directly to the blog immediately prior to it. If you were moved by the song "As Yet Untitled" by Terence Trent D'Arby, please don't just dismiss it as a piece of writing that made you "feel something". I'm saying this because I've seen thousands of phonies. I went to church for many years. And when it came a time that I needed a place to stay, nobody made me welcome at all! I remember waking up the morning they told me to go, and reading out loud to them a passage from Isaiah chapter 58. The passage makes it crystal clear that in order to be right with God, our actions need to be ones of sincere caring. Do you know the response I got? I will never forget it in my life: even before I was finished, one of my friends asked "Where do you want us to take you?"

Please do not respond insultingly to my urge to show compassion to people of color. I would not be personally insulted because I wouldn't know about it. But to know the truth and continue to live as if you did not know it would be an insult to your own soul. And I am confident, if you are reading my blog, that you want something better for your life.

If you want to offer love, have compassion for your African American neighbor

TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY: AS YET UNTITLED
Out by the shanty where the dust hangs high
Far from a river where things grow green
The flowers weep and they lean away
From the blood stained soil beneath my feet
The thorns outnumber the petals on the rose
And the darkness amplifies the sound
Of printer's ink on propaganda page
That will rule your life and fuel my rage
I tried to bend my knees but my knees were already bent
I haven't stood like a man for such a long time now
I called on my God but He was sleeping on that day
I guess I'll just have to depend on me, oh
Shall I tell my children if they ask of me
Did I surrender forth my right to be?
Y'see, my daddy died to leave this haunting ground
And this same ground still haunts me
The cool September blows the seeds away
The harvest blown again this year but
I'll return a stronger man
I'll return to me my homeland
"No grave shall hold my body down
This land is still my home", I said
But I'll return a stronger man
I'll return to me my homeland
No grave shall hold my body down
This land is still my home, this land is still my home

Let Love

Be still and know
that
He is God.
Be still and
allow the impurities
that
have
invaded your soul
to be sifted away.

Believe.
No harm will come to you here.

Allow the impurities
to drain out.
Believe.

Steven Curtis Chapman: Be Still and Know

When u have failed at friendship

Today my friends, I let a number of people down. You could say it was no big deal, but when you look at the fact that each of us is desperately trying to make our way through this life, every little altercation and upset is an emotional blow for those who we affect.

And so, I don't want to go into too many of the details, but I didn't get enough sleep last night, didn't have much for breakfast, and had a real problem getting any ice water to drink. So I was grouchy! Real grouchy!!! And I misinterpreted a lot of people's intentions and I made crazy accusations and was just very unpleasant. Even if some of my perceptions were correct, to blast people is an unwise way to handle it.

So what do I do? I failed at being the Friend people were looking for me to be. Still, one thing I will not do is label myself a failure. I have lived many days now, and I know that the sun will come up tomorrow. I will see these people who were hurt by me again, and hopefully when I see them, I can share with them how badly I feel about letting them down. Maybe I will even be blessed with an opportunity to make it up to them. Rather than dwelling on the failures of today, I focus on the opportunity of tomorrow.

The Who: Behind Blue Eyes